Housing crisis in London – its the population (stupid)!

An article in the ‘Guardian’ newspaper states ‘Sky-high London rents prompt calls for new controls on landlords’
With many Londoners paying at least half their salary in rent, politicians say urgent measures are needed to prevent a ghettoisation of the capital.

Sarah Hayward, Camden council’s Labour leader, who commissioned a report from the London School of Economics and Political Science on the global renting experience, argues that unless fair rent, as opposed to market rent, becomes the norm, the capital will “lose its soul”.
“I am really worried about the future of London,” Hayward says. “One of our selling points is that London offers diversity. It’s edgy, it’s cultured, it’s intellectual, it’s artsy, it’s fashion as well as business.”

So rents are rising, what a surprise! Is it the fault of greedy landlords just pushing rents up? Is it due to those against building on any scrap of green and open land that exists?

Well oddly enough the population of London is growing, fast – its out of control. Between 2008 and 2014 the population of England grew by 5% (now that is too high in itself), but in London?